Summer Love is an anthology series in which eight very different sets of people rent the same holiday house and encounter some incarnation of love.
Created and produced by Upper Middle Bogan’s Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope, Summer Love harnesses the collision between the dreamy enchantment of the beach and the clumsy reality of humans on holiday.
Funny and uplifting, the series captures the anonymity, the possibility, the escape that we all feel on vacation – alongside the sunburn and the sand in the sheets.
The house, hanging over the ocean, is the portal for love – to be discovered, or recovered, or let go.
Starring an impressive line-up of Australian talent, including Miranda Tapsell, Patrick Brammall, Harriet Dyer, Nazeem Hussain, Stephen Curry, Sibylla Budd, Tim Draxl, Alison Bell, Bjorn Stewart and Annie Maynard, the only thing the episodes have in common is the setting – the same dream holiday house by the beach.
Episode 1 – Jules & Tom & Jonah & Steph
Two couples travel to the house for their traditional summer holiday. The difference this year is that Steph (Harriet Dyer) and Jonah (Stephen Curry) have Molly: their toddler who takes up more space than she did last year.
The tension builds between the judgemental childless couple, Jules (Sibylla Budd) and Tom (Patrick Brammall), and the helicopter parents until it explodes into all the unexpressed grievances, dormant in the friendship until now.
Further Summer Love stories and characters this season include:
- Surprise instant parents Kelly (Miranda Tapsell) & Craig (Richard Davies); aspiring rapper Imran (Nazeem Hussain) and his surgeon girlfriend, Nabilah (Sana’a Shaik), who grapple with Imran’s abandonment issues;
- Chalk-and-cheese couple Luke (Tim Draxl) & Olly (Harry McNaughton), whose one-year anniversary brings a surprise interloper into their relationship;
- Strangers Marion (Robyn Butler) & Eddy (Wayne Hope), who find themselves forced to stay together after a double booking; Charlie (Chenoa Deemal) & Zeke (Bjorn Stewart) whose trial separation is not going to get in the way of their annual beach weekend;
- Sisters Hannah (Alison Bell) & Alex (Annie Maynard), who leave their chaotic family lives behind for a holiday recharge;
- And troubled teenager Frankie (Charlotte Maggi) is surprised when unknown visitor Trevor (Keith Robinson) suddenly arrives on the front lawn.
Production Credits: A Gristmill Production. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with VicScreen, the ABC and Kinetic Content. Written by: Kodie Bedford, Alison Bell, Patrick Brammall, Robyn Butler, James Colley, Harriet Dyer, Wayne Hope, Nazeem Hussain, Jayden Masciulli, Kate Mulvany, Bjorn Stewart, Miranda Tapsell & Nath Valvo. Produced by: Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope. Associate Producer: Louisa Kors. Executive Producers: Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope and Greg Sitch. ABC Executive Producer: Todd Abbott. Kinetic Content Executive Producers: Chris Coelen and Melissa Myers.
I watched it, waiting for something to “happen”. But all that happened was that I watched “friends” arguing the point over a 17 month old child, and using foul language while they did it. And the next thing I knew….it was over!! Half an hour of so called adults arguing with each other and we call that entertainment????
Sorry the drama is too human for you, maybe The Bold and the Beautiful is a better fit? Tends to run in the middle of the day. Highly Recommend
I absolutely loved it. It was something many of us experience after being best mates in the past, and realising we’ve moved on, even though trying to hang on by strings. Very well written and great cast. It had a message and did it well. Looking forward to the next episode.
This was brilliantly written and directed – funny, clever, and utterly human. Very addictive, can’t wait for Ep 2.
Fantastic, utterly believable and experienced by so many of us, Lizzy you should have had a role in it for sure. For the real people it was a cracker of a show.
Sorry, I agree with Lizzy. Obviously a 30 minute slot filler for ABC. We’ll that’s 30 minutes I’ll never get back. What a totally boring waste of time.
I do not understand how anybody can bag this show, I reckon it’s great. Are we becoming more like Americans and need comedy to slap us in the face? A subtle comedy is a godsend as we are expected to watch brain dead tripe from the U.S.A. Rant over.
I love it it brings reality in to comedy everyone can relate to the stories lol loved all the episodes so far can’t wait for more great comedy great directing great actors